A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers San Carlos de Bariloche vs. Santa Cruz de la Sierra for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit San Carlos de Bariloche or Santa Cruz de la Sierra?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for San Carlos de Bariloche and Santa Cruz de la Sierra. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: San Carlos de Bariloche or Santa Cruz de la Sierra?

San Carlos de Bariloche

Set in the foothills of the Andes Mountains in Argentina, San Carlos de Bariloche is the biggest city in the Lake District. Bariloche is popular for skiing and snowboarding in the winter and trekking, swimming, fishing and horseback riding in the summertime.

No matter the time of year, there is something for everyone in Bariloche. Skiing season begins from June to October while fishing season is from November to April. Summer is from December to March, but visiting during low seasons (Spring in October to December and Autumn in late-April to mid-June) also has its benefits when it comes to saving cash and avoiding crowds.

Check out our ultimate guide to Hiking in Patagonia.

Santa Cruz de la Sierra

Santa Cruz de la Sierra, or simply Santa Cruz, is a larger city in the middle of Bolivia. It is also one of the most wealthy cities in the country. The city is also one of the fastest growing in the world. It is famous for its nightlife and it makes an excellent base for exploring many of the tourist attractions in the nearby areas.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Argentina, The Best Tours Under $1000 in Bolivia, and The Best Luxury Tours to Bolivia.


Which place is cheaper, Santa Cruz de la Sierra or San Carlos de Bariloche?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in San Carlos de Bariloche is $7.52, while the average daily cost in Santa Cruz de la Sierra is $54. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for San Carlos de Bariloche and Santa Cruz de la Sierra in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    San Carlos de Bariloche $2.72
    Santa Cruz de la Sierra $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    San Carlos de Bariloche $5.44
    Santa Cruz de la Sierra $46
Compare Hotels in San Carlos de Bariloche and Santa Cruz de la Sierra

Looking for a hotel in San Carlos de Bariloche or Santa Cruz de la Sierra? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in San Carlos de Bariloche


Hotels in Santa Cruz de la Sierra


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: San Carlos de Bariloche Hotel Prices and Santa Cruz de la Sierra Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    San Carlos de Bariloche $2.32
    Santa Cruz de la Sierra $9.96

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Carlos de Bariloche

Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Carlos de Bariloche:

  • Bariloche Airport Arrival Private Transfer: $106
  • Bariloche Airport Arrival Shuttle Transfer: $36
  • Bariloche Airport BRC to Cerro Catedral RoundTrip Transfer: $55
  • Bariloche Airport Departure Shuttle Transfer: $36
  • Bariloche Airport Round Trip PrivateTransfer: $147
  • Bariloche: 1-Way or Round-Trip BRC Airport Transfer: $9.00
  • Bariloche: One-Way Private Transfer from Airport: $35
  • Cerro Catedral to Bariloche Airport (BRC) - Departure Transfer: $28
  • One Way Transfer from Bariloche Airport to or from Llao Llao: $60
  • Private Transfer Bariloche or Villa La Angostura to Bariloche Airport BRC by van: $69
  • Private Transfer from Bahía López to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $74
  • Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Bahia López: $74

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Santa Cruz de la Sierra

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santa Cruz de la Sierra:


  • Taxi Ride
    $4.36
  • Mini Bus
    $0.58

Is it cheaper to fly into San Carlos de Bariloche or Santa Cruz de la Sierra?

Prices for flights to both Santa Cruz de la Sierra and San Carlos de Bariloche change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    San Carlos de Bariloche $2.83
    Santa Cruz de la Sierra $20
Typical Food Prices in San Carlos de Bariloche

Some typical examples of dining costs in San Carlos de Bariloche are as follows:


  • Pastries
    $0.01
  • Empanadas
    $0.03

Typical Food Prices in Santa Cruz de la Sierra

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Santa Cruz de la Sierra:


  • Snacks
    $3.20
  • Chips
    $0.29
  • Banana
    $0.15
  • Cookies
    $1.31

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    San Carlos de Bariloche $3.10
    Santa Cruz de la Sierra $19

Tours and Activities in San Carlos de Bariloche

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Carlos de Bariloche are as follows:

  • Bariloche: 4-Hour Cerro Catedral Base Tour: $15
  • From Bariloche: Chico Circuit & Colonia Suiza Tour: $20
  • Bariloche: Half Day Small Circuit Tour - Mt Campanario and Llao Llao Peninsula: $28
  • German Footprint Tour: $29
  • Indigenous People of Patagonia History Tour: $29
  • German Footprint & Nazi presence - Walking Tour in Bariloche: $29
  • Small Circuit Tour: Mt Campanario and Llao Llao Peninsula: $39
  • Bariloche Sightseeing Tour: $42
  • Bariloche: Full-Day El Bolsón and Puelo Lake Tour: $42
  • 4-Hour Guided Tour of the Small Circuit: $60
  • Half-Day Tour to Circuito Chico and Cerro Catedral with Transportation: $60
  • Pablo Bernasconi's Art Gallery Guided Tour: $60

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    San Carlos de Bariloche $1.86
    Santa Cruz de la Sierra $14
Typical Alcohol Prices in San Carlos de Bariloche

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in San Carlos de Bariloche from other travelers:


  • Beer
    $0.01

Typical Alcohol Prices in Santa Cruz de la Sierra

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Santa Cruz de la Sierra from other travelers:


  • Beer
    $1.60


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Carlos de Bariloche and Santa Cruz de la Sierra, we can see that Santa Cruz de la Sierra is more expensive. And not only is San Carlos de Bariloche much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Carlos de Bariloche would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Carlos de Bariloche and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Santa Cruz de la Sierra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santa Cruz de la Sierra than you might in San Carlos de Bariloche.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Carlos de Bariloche Expensive? and Is Santa Cruz de la Sierra Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, San Carlos de Bariloche or Santa Cruz de la Sierra?

Santa Cruz de la Sierra has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of San Carlos de Bariloche. When comparing the sizes of San Carlos de Bariloche and Santa Cruz de la Sierra, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.